are carried by large fibers in fasiculis gracilus (legs) and cuneatus (arms) to respective nuclei in caudal medulla Þ decussates and ascends in the Medial lemniscus and joins the spinal thalamic tract in the midbrain on its way to VPL.

VPL projects to sensory cortex – has humunculus with leg closest to midline sagital sulcus and face closest to Sylvian fissure (which is receiving the projections from VPM).

VPM

Pain and temp

in Trigeminal system descends in Spinal tract of V (analogous to and continuous with Lissauer’s tract), processed at various levels in the spinal nucleus of V (analagous to and continuous with nucleus proprious) which descends into upper cervical region. So people with high cervical spinal cord injuries can lose pain/temp on the face. secondary neurons decusate and ascend in Trigeminothalamic tract located close to spinothalamic tract

Larger fine touch and vibration fibers are processed in the principle nucleus of V.

Proprioceptive information about the jaw

is processed in the Mesencephalic nucleus of V, which ascends into midbrain. These later two nuclei project bilaterally close to medial lemniscus.

All of these fibers project to VPM. Topology of these fibers from caudal to rostral is dorsal to ventral face

Fibers from the dentate nucleus of cerebellum project via the superior cerebellar peduncles where they decussate in the lower midbrain (brachium conjunctiva). Some fibers synapse in red nucleus, some bypass and go to VL.

VL projects to motor and premotor cortex which plans motor function by telling motor where limb is, what is load, etc.

Cortex feeds back to motor system via 2 tracts:

(1) corticopontine (very large) – synapse on small cells of pontine nuclei that decussate and project via Middle cerebellar peduncle back to cerebellum

(2) lateral corticospinal tract.

These fibers travel through the anterior limb of the internal capsule. There is also feedback to VL.

VA

Along with VL, recieves projections from substantia niagra, projecting to motor and premotor cortex. This loop initiates movement. Therefore in Parkinson’s (or toxin MPTP), there is slowness of movement due to loss of stimulation from VA and VL.

These paths are inhibitory to VA and VL (opposite of Parkinson’s, surgical lesions in them balances effects of disease)

Huntington’s Chorrea: degeneration of the caudate nucleus resulting in a loss of inhibition leading to hyper kinesis

centromedian

nucleus projects back to Caudate and Putamen. Short feedback loop

Limbic System Loop

– Papez’s circuit

Anterior Thalimic Nucleus

Þprojects to the cingulate gyrus (lies above corpus callosum) Þ projects to the parahipocampal gyrus Þ projects to adjacent hippocampus Þ projects to the fornix which loops around the anterior commissure Þ mainly projects to the mamilary bodies Þ projects to the anterior thalamic nucleus completing the loop via the Mamillothalamic tract.

Wernicke’s encephalopathy

is caused by thiamine defficiency in alchoholics due to damage to the mamilary bodies. Any disruption of the above loop results in marked short term memory loss. (Other structures also affect Þ impared eye movement). Can be treated by thiamine.